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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Greater Melbourne was 30 to 34 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2011 was 30 to 34 year olds, increasing by 104,584 people.
The Age Structure of Greater Melbourne provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is also an indicator of Greater Melbourne's residential role and function and how it is likely to change in the future.
Five year age groups present a classic age profile of the population. Each age group covers exactly five years, which enables direct comparison between each group.
To get a more complete picture Greater Melbourne's Age Structure should be viewed in conjunction with Household Types and Dwelling Types.
Q:
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
| Age structure - Five year age groups | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Melbourne - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2011 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Canberra % | Number | % | Canberra % | 2011 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 290,242 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 258,762 | 6.5 | 6.6 | +31,480 |
| 5 to 9 | 306,813 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 241,160 | 6.1 | 6.0 | +65,653 |
| 10 to 14 | 292,787 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 236,745 | 6.0 | 6.1 | +56,042 |
| 15 to 19 | 274,512 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 253,050 | 6.4 | 6.8 | +21,462 |
| 20 to 24 | 327,541 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 299,776 | 7.5 | 8.6 | +27,765 |
| 25 to 29 | 381,676 | 7.8 | 8.7 | 316,552 | 8.0 | 8.5 | +65,124 |
| 30 to 34 | 404,216 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 299,632 | 7.5 | 7.7 | +104,584 |
| 35 to 39 | 394,826 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 299,693 | 7.5 | 7.6 | +95,133 |
| 40 to 44 | 338,297 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 299,827 | 7.5 | 7.3 | +38,470 |
| 45 to 49 | 319,388 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 277,290 | 7.0 | 6.9 | +42,098 |
| 50 to 54 | 307,436 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 256,745 | 6.5 | 6.6 | +50,691 |
| 55 to 59 | 275,810 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 223,571 | 5.6 | 5.7 | +52,239 |
| 60 to 64 | 248,708 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 201,095 | 5.1 | 5.1 | +47,613 |
| 65 to 69 | 210,766 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 150,113 | 3.8 | 3.4 | +60,653 |
| 70 to 74 | 185,752 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 117,881 | 3.0 | 2.4 | +67,871 |
| 75 to 79 | 135,118 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 94,488 | 2.4 | 1.8 | +40,630 |
| 80 to 84 | 96,483 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 77,166 | 1.9 | 1.4 | +19,317 |
| 85 and over | 99,619 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 72,485 | 1.8 | 1.3 | +27,134 |
| Total population | 4,889,990 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 3,976,031 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +913,959 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to Canberra shows that there was a similar proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) and a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 18.2% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 14.9% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.3% and 13.5% respectively for Canberra.
The major differences between the age structure of Greater Melbourne and Canberra were:
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 20 to 24 (6.7% compared to 7.6%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 25 to 29 (7.8% compared to 8.7%)
Emerging groups
From 2011 to 2021, Greater Melbourne's population increased by 913,959 people (23.0%). This represents an average annual population change of 2.09% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2011 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 30 to 34 (+104,584 persons)
- 35 to 39 (+95,133 persons)
- 70 to 74 (+67,871 persons)
- 5 to 9 (+65,653 persons)
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